Chapter 1190: Master and Disciple Duel

Yun Mengmeng only remembered her duty after Qinghe finished a lengthy introduction, immediately kneeling and kowtowing. "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!" As a high-ranking Minister of Rites, she felt it was her duty to ensure proper decorum when His Majesty appeared before strangers. However, Historian Qinghe had been too quick, already establishing the proper scene, leaving Yun Mengmeng with little more than a simple greeting.

Everyone present was stunned by the Immortal Fairy's appearance. Only Yun Zhi quietly continued eating, picking up dishes and savoring her good sister's cooking as usual.

Taoist Buyu admitted that in his youth, he had fantasized about ancient beasts being sealed within his body. As someone who'd been there, he thought it was perfectly understandable for little Yang to imagine an immortal in his. After all, he was at that age. He never imagined that for little Yang, it wasn't a fantasy; there truly was an immortal within him. "Back then, I only dared to fantasize about fierce beasts inside me, but you, you have a female immortal!" he thought. "How was she introduced just now? The foremost of the Ten Beauties of Ancient Times? Just hearing that title tells you how stunning she must be." Taoist Buyu pondered. This seemed to be his first time meeting an immortal, and he wasn't sure how to properly show respect. He bowed slightly and said, "Taoist Buyu greets the Immortal."

"You are little Yangzi's elder; there's no need to bow to me," the Immortal Fairy said, waving her hand and gently lifting Taoist Buyu. Taoist Buyu tried hard to bow, but found he couldn't, so he gave up on the gesture.

"So the Immortal has always resided within my disciple," Taoist Buyu remarked. "It seems my disciple's rapid cultivation is thanks to the Immortal's guidance."

"Not at all, not at all. Besides my guidance, little Yangzi's own talent is exceptional," replied the Immortal Fairy.

*Not at all, Immortal Fairy!* Lu Yang thought. *Since we met, what have you guided me on? Ancient dark history? Then I got struck by the Ying Tian Immortal, then I broke through the Refinement Void stage limit...* The more Lu Yang recalled, the less he could argue. It seemed his cultivation to the Tribulation Transcending stage was indeed due to the Immortal Fairy. Without her, he would probably only be systematically reaching the Body Fusion stage by now.

"So little Yang has an Immortal's protection," Taoist Buyu mused aloud. "I was worried that little Yang was too young and inexperienced, but now I can confidently pass on the Sect Master position to him."

"Don't worry," the Immortal Fairy chimed in, "handing the Sect Master position to little Yangzi will certainly be fine..."

"Hold on, you two, when did I ever agree to become Sect Master?" Lu Yang quickly pulled the Immortal Fairy, who was clearly enjoying the spectacle, closer. He wondered how the conversation had suddenly made him the Sect Master.

Taoist Buyu said earnestly, "Little Yang, your master knows the process of becoming a Sect Master – the three humble refusals and the three solemn acceptances. Your master went through it too. However, your excellence is clear for all to see throughout the Dao-Seeking Sect. No one will object if you become Sect Master directly. Your master is getting old, and there are some things I no longer have the strength for. My greatest wish for the rest of my life is to see you younger generations thrive and take on the burdens we carry."

"No, Master, you're only two thousand years old! You still have eight thousand years of life left!" Lu Yang exclaimed, dumbfounded. He couldn't bring himself to utter such nonsense.

"In any case, the position of Sect Master is now yours!" Taoist Buyu declared, making the decision without further discussion. He had originally intended to do this upon his return to the Dao-Seeking Sect, and now, seeing that Lu Yang had the help of an immortal hailed as the foremost of the Five Ancient Immortals, there was certainly no problem with him becoming Sect Master.

"No, I won't do it."

"I'm the Sect Master; you must listen to me!"

"I have a temporary Sect Master's pass; you can't control me!"

Master and disciple saw unyielding resolve in each other's eyes. "In that case, we can only settle this with a fight!" they both declared in unison.

Both were sword cultivators renowned for their aggressive combat styles and had reached the Tribulation Transcending stage. Heavenly Gate Peak was too small to accommodate their display. Without a word, they both flew towards the interior of the Dao-Seeking Sect, settling down in the uninhabited mountains.

The others followed, choosing a nearby spot to watch the battle. Yun Mengmeng even remembered to carry plates and a table, while Qinghe, Gantian, and Ye Zijin helped bring other items. Yun Zhi set up a protective barrier to shield them from the sword qi of the two combatants.

Taoist Buyu and Lu Yang each stood on a mountaintop, silent. Without anyone announcing the start, both simultaneously drew their swords and unleashed their Sword Dao domains.

*Boom!* The moment their Sword Dao domains clashed, a massive sphere of sword qi formed, countless sword energies swirling within it. In the blink of an eye, the mountain and earth between them vanished, leaving only a deep, arc-shaped crater.

Taoist Buyu's eyes burned with fighting spirit. Since comprehending the Sword Dao domain, it was the first time he had encountered someone who could contend with him in the way of the sword. Lu Yang felt the same way. During the Sword Inquiry Grand Ceremony, facing all the sword cultivators in the world, he hadn't met a truly evenly matched opponent. This was also his first time encountering someone who could directly withstand his sword qi.

"Excellent, excellent!" Taoist Buyu laughed. "I was worried your combat awareness and understanding of the Sword Dao wouldn't keep up after directly leaping to the Tribulation Transcending stage, but it seems I worried needlessly!" He laughed heartily, unleashing his sword qi without restraint. It swept forward like raging waves, surging in a blinding white torrent—a killing move he rarely used. Those of the same cultivation level would typically evade its onslaught.

Lu Yang's right arm vibrated, and he too unleashed a vast expanse of sword qi, like a descending flood that swept across all directions. Immediately, the sword qi transformed into the forms of a black dragon, a golden phoenix, and a white Qiongqi, surging towards Taoist Buyu. Countless halos burst forth in the air before exploding, shattering space, causing spiritual energy to evaporate, and creating a deafening uproar!

In mere breaths, the two exchanged hundreds of blows, their speed astonishing. Even other Tribulation Transcending cultivators would only barely keep up with their speed, let alone manage to defend against every attack while launching their own.

"Buddha Kingdom in the Palm!" A colossal, boundless palm appeared, covering the entire mountain range, descending with a rumbling sound, as if the sky itself were collapsing. Taoist Buyu felt an irresistible suction emanating from the palm's center, threatening to pull him in. He tried to unleash a wave of sword qi, but it was all absorbed by the palm.

"A spatial divine ability, then? A Short Distance to the Ends of the Earth!" Taoist Buyu smiled faintly, countering a spatial divine ability with his own. In a single step, he traversed space, appearing on the back of the palm, which was a blind spot for attack. However, before he could rejoice, he saw a dark, oppressive mass overhead—it was a second palm! Lu Yang had simultaneously used "Buddha Kingdom in the Palm" twice, precisely to prevent Taoist Buyu from appearing on the back of the first palm! Taoist Buyu's expression changed. He wanted to use "A Short Distance to the Ends of the Earth" again to escape, but it was too late. The second palm slammed down on the back of the first, trapping Taoist Buyu between them, like two small worlds colliding. When both palms vanished, Taoist Buyu reappeared, panting heavily, his clothes tattered, and his vitality greatly diminished.

"Master, concede defeat," Lu Yang said. "I still haven't used the Immortal Sword Art, nor my Pictographic Fist."

Although temporarily at a disadvantage, Taoist Buyu would never concede. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and flatly rejected Lu Yang's suggestion: "Concede? Your master has never conceded in his life! Do you think this is all your master has? Don't tell me you've forgotten your master's 'Sword Cleaving Heavenly Gate'!"

"Go, Second Boss! I believe you'll win!" With one side being the "Second Boss" and the other Taoist Buyu, Yun Mengmeng naturally threw her full support behind the Second Boss without hesitation.

"Hey, why aren't you cheering?" Yun Mengmeng noticed she was the only one shouting. Gantian and Ye Zijin remained silent, as if completely indifferent to the battle's outcome. Gantian shook her head helplessly and explained, "Does it make a difference who becomes Sect Master? In the end, won't it still be Senior Sister doing all the work?"

Yun Mengmeng realized this was true. The Second Boss still had to busy himself expanding the Soybean Dynasty's territory; how could he possibly have time to be Sect Master?

Gantian turned to Senior Sister and asked, "Oh, Senior Sister, they said they're going to fight, but did they specify how they'll decide the Sect Master position?" Senior Sister calmly replied, "Naturally, whoever wins becomes Sect Master."